Wild Atlantic Oyster logo
phone

Supreme Gigas Oysters

Our premium Irish oysters, Crassostrea Gigas (also known as Pacific or rock oysters), are sourced from our own hatchery, and stem genetically from the original brood stock introduced to Ireland in the early 1970s under strict quarantine protocol in collaboration between University College Galway’s Shellfish Research Programme and the U.K. Ministry of Fisheries. The stock was sourced from British Columbian waters, where environmental and climatic conditions match closely those of the Atlantic coast of Ireland.

The gigas oysters suitability to Ireland’s Atlantic coast was confirmed through a Research and Development programme over a ten year period. A study of the genetics of the stock by the University zoology department confirmed excellent breeding potential and also concluded that it differed substantially from the strain being farmed in France.

Wild Atlantic Oyster Hatchery

Life-Cycle of a Premium Irish Oyster

Follow the unique journey of our premium-quality Pacific rock oysters, from spat (the name for a hatchling oyster egg) to fully-formed, mature oyster to your plate!

Here, we cover the cold water nursery phase, the cultivation process from natural oyster beds, grading, packaging and fresh bulk delivery to the very highest international food quality and safety standards on our oyster farm.

Oyster Nursery

These photographs of our oyster fishery facility show a floating upwelling nursery system, known as a Flupsy which is designed to ensure that the seed oysters are provided with a steady supply of nutrient rich sea water, drawn up through the fine mesh bottom of the holding sections.

They remain here with water quality monitored until they reach 10mm grade size, with meat content measured and ready for the next phase of their natural product evolution.

Growing the Oysters to Maturity

The gorgeous native oysters are transferred from the nursery to oyster bags, which are then attached to trestles placed in long lines on a protected sandy beach. These bags are turned and shaken regularly throughout the growing season from March to October.

The bags are taken ashore a number of times during the season, the oysters removed from the bags, with a strict selection process ensuring they’re graded and returned to bags at ever lower densities, as they increase in size.

Attaching Oyster Bags to Trestles

At regular intervals throughout the growing season, bags containing tonnes of oysters are taken from trestles by tractor, are unloaded, graded by physical size (length and width), and returned to bags, to be put back on trestles to continue growing into some the very finest oysters of Ireland.

Wild Atlantic Oyster Production

Final Grading for Packing

Final Grading for Packing

As the wide variety of our finest oysters mature, the bags are taken ashore and emptied into a hopper from which they are conveyed, automatically, through a high-powered washer, to a circular grader which sorts them into a range of sizes, depending on their weight.

There are eight grades of exceptional quality and two packing options, as follows:

oyster sorting and packing
oyster sorting and packing
large oysters in wooden box
large oysters in wooden box
packing Irish oysters for shipment
packing Irish oysters for shipment
oyster packet lid
oyster packet lid
bulk oysters for export from Ireland
bulk oysters for export from Ireland
pallet box of oysters
pallet box of oysters

Oyster Packaging Units & Weight

Grade  Size  Packing in 25Kg Polystyrene Fish Box
(Average)		 Packing in Wooden Chip Baskets
(Typical)
N0 130 – 150g 170 pieces per box 24/48 pieces per basket
N1 110 – 130g 200 pieces per box 24/48 pieces per basket
N2 90 – 110g 250 pieces per box 24/48 pieces per basket
N3 70 – 90g 300 pieces per box 24/48 pieces per basket
N4 50 – 70g 350 pieces per box 24/48 pieces per basket

Note: Sample quantities of 12 pieces per basket are packed, on demand
In addition to the five basic grades, we grow larger premium oysters, as shown in the table below.

Domestic and international customers requiring these sizes are advised that they may not be always in stock. To ensure a steady supply of large, flat oysters, we engage with customers regarding their projected needs.

Our farmers will then set aside sufficient stocks of smaller oysters at the start of the growing season in March, so that they will grow on to the customer’s requirements for supply the following Autumn.

Grade  Size  Packing in 25Kg Polystyrene Fish Box
(Average)		 Packing in Wooden Chip Baskets
(Typical)
N0XXL 200g+ 100 pieces per box 12, 24 pieces per baske
NOXL 180 – 200g 130 pieces per box 24 pieces per basket
NOL 150 – 180g 150 pieces per box 24 pieces per basket

Depuration

All fresh oysters are supplied live and ready for consumption. To ensure the safety of the oysters for human consumption, they are placed for a minimum of forty eight hours in depuration tanks.

These tanks contain sea water which is continuously circulated through UV filters, to remove all traces of microbial infection, prior to packing for delivery to the market. Skimmers are added, to remove all suspended particles from the water, and the water is further disinfected using ozone.

The water may be heated in Winter, to help combat infection, and cooled in Summer, to ensure that the delicious oysters are in prime condition for delivery to the customer.

Wild Atlantic Oyster The Depuration Plant

Menu